Louis Kimber registers the fastest double-hundred in County Championship history and 2nd quickest in first-class cricket

English cricketer Louis Kimber sent records tumbling as he struck the fastest double-hundred in County Championship history, taking only 100 deliveries to reach the landmark on Wednesday (June 26). It is also the second-fastest in all first-class cricket, behind Shafiqullah, who needed only 89 balls.

With Leicestershire set an improbable 464 to win by Sussex at Hove in the County Championship division two fixture, the 27-year-old took the attack to the opposition bowlers, especially Ollie Robinson. The right-arm seamer bowled a forgettable 59th over of the innings as Kimber slaughtered him for 43 runs with six fours, two sixes, and three no-balls.

The same over saw the keeper-batter reach his century, taking only 62 balls to do so. He passed his double-hundred in the 74th over of the innings, again bowled by Robinson with a maximum.

Sussex survive Louis Kimber's innings to sneak an 18-run win

Nevertheless, Sussex survived the 27-year-old's innings of 243 off 127 deliveries to register an 18-run victory. Apart from the right-handed batter, no other player passed fifty, with Rishi Patel's 41 the next best score. Nathan McAndrew, who took a couple of wickets, castled Kimber to bowl Leicestershire out for 445.

Sussex amassed 445 in their first innings on the back of a marathon 183 by John Simpson. However, Leicestershire managed only 275 in response as Ollie Robinson was one of the chief architects of taking a big lead with three scalps. Sussex made another 296 to set a 464-run target, proving to be just about enough in the end.

The 21 sixes by the youngster is also the most by any batter in an innings in a County Championship fixture. With Leceistershire losing the match quite narrowly, the keeper-batter left the pitch distraught. But the opposition players were in awe of his outing and walked up to congratulate him.